Page 24 of Cord

Cord

Mira and Lauren are in Bronco’s house doing whatever it is that women do when they hit it off and decide they need to talk away from the boys. I was relieved to see the easy friendship that was already starting. I spend a lot of time at the ranch, and I want Mira to love it too.

The guys and I are enjoying beers underneath the stars. Vale arrived a few minutes ago, but he hasn’t said much. That’s not new though.

“Did you find a farm manager?” Bronco asks.

Flint nods. “I hired a guy by the name of Ron. Seems like a good guy if the resume is anything to go by.”

“You didn’t interview him?” Kane asks. He’s one of the new guys here, but he’s a hard worker and tough as nails. He’s going to be a hell of an addition to the crew if he ever figures out how to silence those demons of his.

Flint shrugs. “I would rather let the guy prove himself through hard work.”

There’s a murmur through the group, all of us seeming to come to the agreement that this is the best way to find someone to work on the farm. After all, it doesn’t do us any good to have a business manager that’s scared of long days and dirty work.

“I’ve got my assignment coming up soon,” Flint says, “so I’ll be away for a couple of days.”

“Your assignment?” Vale asks, something lighting up on his face. I suspect he’s looking for anything to distract him from the pain. He lost a girl. He’s been searching for her, but so far, he hasn’t had any luck locating her.

“Yeah, I’ll have to meet with whoever Lauren sold me to and figure out what the fuck I’m supposed to do.”

“Be your usual charming self,” Kane says, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

“Whoa there, we don’t want her asking for a refund,” I tell Flint.

He flips me the bird.

Kane crushes his beer can. “It’ll probably be a walk in the park. I’m still waiting for my assignment. Hope she’s got long legs and a smart mouth. Fuck, I love it when they’re sassy.”

“What about you?” I ask Ridge.

He shrugs. “Still waiting on my girl too.”

“Let’s hope she enjoys visiting you in the nursing home, grandpa,” Flint answers. He’s only teasing him because he’s the oldest veteran here. I don’t think he’s more than ten or so years older than most of us. Lauren had a name for him. Something about a fox but hell if I remember. Can’t keep up with women. There’s only one woman I’m paying attention to these days.

Ridge ignores the barb from Flint and focuses on Vale. “Are you still looking?”

“I’ll never stop,” Vale answers, referring to his search for his wife. I hope for his sake that he finds her soon. I hope she’s just as in love with him as he is with her. I couldn’t imagine how I’d feel if Mira didn’t love me back. Just the thought makes me feel like I can’t breathe.

Kane clears his throat. “Look, somebody has got to say it. You may not find her, and maybe that makes me an asshole, but let your wife go, man.”

I exchange a look with Bronco who shakes his head. “He can’t.”

Kane pops a tab on his new beer. “And why is that?”

It’s hard to explain why, and we’re all quiet for a moment, searching for the right words. Finally, I tell Kane, “When you have a woman who is the reason your heart beats, there’s nothing on this earth that will convince you to let her go.”

Chapter 12

Mira

“Did you get everything boarded up?” I ask Cord when he comes in the door of his cabin.

He looks dead on his feet and so damn exhausted. He’s spent the last hour boarding things up around the ranch. A pretty intense storm is expected overnight. He sent me back to the cabin telling me to go to bed and get some sleep. But the truth is, I didn’t want to sleep, not without my husband home.

He gives me a weary nod, presses a kiss to my forehead, and says, “I’m going to bed.”

He’s already given me his bed in his room, and he said he’d take the guest. I tried to insist that I was the guest, but he gave me one of those panty-melting looks and said, “You aren’t a guest. You’re my wife.”